Overhead door structure



Aug- 17, 1937 L. A. BlT'roRF ET A1. 2,090,099

OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Aug. i7, 1937.

afi

L. A. BITTORF ET AL OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. A. BITTORF Er A1. 2,090,099

OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Aug. 17, 19137., L, A, BITTQRF Er AL 2,090,099

. OVERHEAD noon STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Louis A. Bittorf, George G. Behrens, and Frank Decker, Sterling, Ill., assignors to National Manufacturing Company, Sterling, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 18, 1930, Serial No. 503,165

20 Claims.

Our invention relates to closure structure of the overhead type formed of a plurality of horizontal, hingedly-connected sections so mounted that the structure assumes a substantially horizontal overhead position when opened and a substantially vertical position when closed. Although our invention has utility in any environment where an arrangement of the foregoing character is desirable, it is particularly us'eful in connection with garage doors, and the like, where a large unobstructed doorway is employed and where head room is by necessity, or otherwise, limited.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a closure 'of the foregoing character'embodying improved details of construction rendering it simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and maintain, easy to operate and positive in action.r

Another object is to provide a door or closure including a plurality of units which may be easily and quickly set up together and installed with operative precision in connection with old or new buildings and buildings wherein the ceiling is low and the head room is limited, being not much greater than that of the doorway.

A further object is to provide a novel means for positively sealing the door, or the like, in its closed position against the doorway frame, rendering the closure practically air-tight and Weatherproof while at the same time insuring that the door may be moved easily and quickly to and from its sealing position.

A more specic object of. our invention is to provide a door sealing arrangement wherein the door supporting rollers coact with camming-devices asl the final closing movement of the door takes place to displace the door laterally toward the sealing surface, the movement of the door up to that point being free, whereby the door seal may be broken and free door movement established upon a. very slight opening movement of the door.

Another more specic object of our invention is to employ the camming devices last referred to as supporting means for the vertical section of the track, and to so relate said devices and track structure that the shafts of the door-supporting rollers coact With the camming devices, respectively, to effect the door-sealing movement.

A further object is to provide improved hinge structure between the several horizontal door sections, which hinge structures include as a fixed part thereof elongated bearings for the door roller shafts, which shafts are freely supported therein and are of sufflcient length to permit the door to adjust itself laterally with respect to the doorway insuring at all times free door movement irrespective of settling, warping and the like, conditions.

Still another object is to provide `improved means for counterbalancing the door' in open and various partially open positions whereby the door is free-moving and under complete counterbalance control at all times, which means is of such construction and so arranged relative to the door and doorway members that its operation is practically noiseless without slapping, Whipping and back-lash during opening and closing movements of the door.

Another object is to provide counterbalance means which is adjustable to compensate for variation in Weights of doors as well as Wear to insure the proper counterbalancing of the door as initially installed and to maintain that condition.

. A more specific object is to provide as a part of the counterbalance a. spring which is adjustable in active length to vary its strength.

Still another object is to provide an improved spring-type counterbalance which embodies selfcontained safety provision preventing falling of the door (with its attendant dangers) from a raised position in the event that a counterbalance spring should break, become loosened, weakened or the like. More specically, we may employ a plurality of equally effective counterbalance springs at each side of the door instead of a single spring, Wherefore should one spring break the others will serve to support the door against falling (as distinguished from gradually lowering). A further object is to provide a novel form of 'latch for holding the door in its closed position, which latch embodies a common means for yieldably holding the door latching members in both their latched and( unlatched positions.

Additional objects are toprovide means for cushioning the movement of the door into its fullopen position, aiding in the noiseless operation of the door and rendering the door and operating structure more eilicient in operation; to provide a spring counterbalance which includes spring supporting structure serving as counterweight means aiding the spring in counterbalancing; to provide an improved joint between the adjacent door sections whereby the joint sections are strengthened, positive clearance for the tight tting joint parts is provided in their relative movements, and moisture, Weather, etc., which may tend to later or may find its way into the joint is drained to the outside of the door; and to lprovide against of the door sections when they are in their overhead horizontal position.

other objects and advantages involving details oi' constructionY and arrangement o! parts having g todo with our improved overhead closure structure will become obvious as this description and by reference tothe drawings wherein,-

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of one form 1o oi' door structure embodying our invention;

Fig.,2 is a parti-sectional, top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a side view o! the structure shown in Pig. 1, illustrating the relative position of the parts of the structure in door-closed position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, except that the door is shown in open position; Y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showi one oi' the door hinges, a portion ot the track structure and the track supporting and doorcamming means associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 5:

Fig. I is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1--1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially at a position along the side edge oi.' the door looking toward the adjacent track structure; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-9 oi Fig. 8l; l

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken substantially on line lli-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, partlyin elevation, showing a preferred 'form of adjustable spring attachment for the counterbalancing spring;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modified form of adjustable spring attachment;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the lower portion of another form of overhead door structure (door in open position) embodying still another form of spring counterbalance; Fig. i4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper ends oi' the counterbalance springs of Fig. 13; A

@tionas appliedto a garage door; but it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to such type of door, or any other particular form o! closure, because it is obvious that our invention has utility in: other installations in which similar conditions of operation and use are to be met. Referring particularly to the structure illustrated in'Flgs. 1-10, the building may take any suitable form having a doorway 2l denned by side frame members 2| andtop frame member 22.

This doorway is of suilicient width to permit the 70 of onev or more automobiles to and from the interior of the building.

The door opening 2li is adapted to be closed by a ilexible-type door Aof the overhead or roll-top type which is comprised oi' a plurality of panels 75 (in this case three in number, but more or less Fig; 15 isvan inside elevational view of an overr,

. may be used as desired) 2 3', 23" and 23". These door sections are horizontally disposed and joined together for relative exible, hinge action by a .plurality of suitable hinge devices 24 to 23, in-

clusive. The overall height and width of the door is suilleient to completely cover the door opennsL tion 3l" extending to near the rear of the buildv ing as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and li.A

It will be appreciated that when the door is in its horizontal overhead position the weight of the same and the width of the doorway may be such that there is a tendency for the door sections to sag and become deformed to such an extent,

unless guarded against, that it will not seal properly in its closed or vertical position. It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 4 that the lowermost door section 23 is carried in a slightly inclined position when the door is open and the intermediate section 23 is supported along its hinge-connected edges by the other sections and the hinges 24 to 29; consequently, the tendency forthese two sections to sag is oil'set. The top edge of the upper section 23n is unsupported and to prevent vit from sagging, we employ a metal strip 23d extending entirely across the top edge of the door in such relation thereto that it is positioned edgewise when the door is in its horizontal position. The adjacent hinge-connected edges of the door are of the interlocking type and are shaped to provide a joint 23 which extends in a general upwardlyinclined direction from the outside of the door. With this arrangement a tight weather-prooi joint is provided but, if any moisture, snow, ice, water, etc. should find its way. into the joint-it will be drained toward the outside of the door. Furthermore, the door section is not weakened by the cutting of this form oi.' joint and the joint parts of the separate door-sections will positively clear each other during hinging movement of the sections. l

'I'he track 30, throughout its length, preferably, takes the cross sectional shape clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The tracks on both sides of the door are identical and but one of them will be described in detail. More particularly. the track is provided with a housing portion 30' L-shaped in cross section and an integral track portion of U-shape in cross section. This track structure is easily and quickly mountable by means oi'a plurality of brackets 3|, 32, 33, 34 (Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 9) each of which are of general L-like shape in cross section with their base portions 35 secured, as by fastening studs, or the like, 36, to the side door members 2|. The other, or arm portions 31 of these brackets extend inwardly at right angles from the base portions and are secured by means of bolts, rivets, or the like, 38 to the'slde of the track housing, these portions of the bracket being of suillcient length to extendaround and embrace the track portion of the track structure (Figs. 7 and 9). Further, the length of the bracket arms 3l is such that the track 30 is carried at a distance inwardly of the door member 2| substantially equal to the thickness of the door` for best cooperation with the door supporting rollers which will be more fully described hereinafter. 'I'he base portions of these track supporting brackets are slotted as at 35 so that they may all be independently adjusted relatively for properly supporting the track in the desired vertical position with respect to the door frame members 2l, 22, etc. This provides for proper track mounting notwithstanding some dis-alignment of the door frame part and insures proper alignment of the opposite track structures.

The horizontal portions of the track are supported at their inner end by means of substantial hanger pieces 39 secured as at 40 to the track structure and as at 4| to the building. We maintain the tracks in predetermined laterally-spaced relation by means of an angle bar 42 spanning the same at their extreme inward ends (Figs. 3 and 4).

The door is supported upon thev track by means of a plurality of rollers 43, 44, 45, 48, all of which are of identical construction. These rollers may be of ball-bearing or any other suitable form supported by shafts d1, and are of proper size to move freely along the track portions of the track structure and to permit slight displacement of the rollers in the track structure for sealing purposes as will-be referred to further hereinafter.

Supports for the rollers 44 and 45 are provided in connection with the hinge structures 24, 25, 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 8). More particularly, these hinge structures take the form of a pair of leaves 48, 49 (Figs. 5 and 6) connected together by a hinge pintle 50 and mounted respectively on the door panels 23a, 23h, 23 with the pintles center line` "on center with respect to the outer end of the irregular weather-proof joint 23e between the adjacent panels. This on center arrangement provides against throwout of the adjacent hinge-connected edges of the door beyond the normal vertical plane surface of the door when the sections hinge relative to each other during movements of the door; thereby conning the door to a more limited operating space. The hinge leaves support L-shaped brackets 5l (preferably fixedly secured thereto), which have their outer ends turned to form elongated cylindrical bearings 52 which freely and slidably receive the roller shafts 41. As shown in Fig. 6, the center line of the shaft supporting part of the bracket 5i is on'center with respect to the center of the hinge pintle vwhereby thel rollers and shafts are free to adjust themselves as the door is moved along the track to open or close the same. The freedom of fit -as between the roller shafts 41 and the bracket bearing 52 permits of endwise adjustment of the shafts 41 therein and consequent lateral adjustment of the door with respect to the doorway whereby the door automatically adjusts itself irrespective of settling, warping, and the like, conditions and will always move freely in its opening and closing movements.

The uppermost rollers on panel 23a are supported by brackets 53 which are similarly constructed and are secured directly to the door panel. These brackets are similar to the hinge brackets 5l and are located, preferably, slightly above the mid-portion of the upper panel 2%2L so that in the closed position of the door they are directly opposite the track supporting brackets 3l. f

'Ihe lowermost roller supporting brackets 54 are, preferably, attached to the extreme lower corner edge portions of the door so that they will be in a position directly opposite the track suparm 54b of this bracket is extended inwardly then I curved laterally and forwardly around the adjacent bottom track supporting bracket 34 providing a cable-attachment extension 54c having an opening 54d therein to which the door operating cable 55 is attached. In this manner, the cable may be readily attached to the bottom of the door and is sufciently removed from the track structure to avoid interference in the operation of these several parts throughout their range of movement.

As will be readily appreciated, it is necessary in the operation of doors of this character that they not only be readily and easily movable along the trackway to and from the overhead position, but that they also shall be effectively sealed, rendering the door substantially air and weatherproof, in the closed position of the door. To accomplish this, we provide novel means associated 'with the door-supporting roller shafts 41 and the track-supporting brackets, whereby an exceedingly cheap structure which is easily and quickly installed is provided, all without giving up any of the effective sealing and operating properties of the entire door structure. More particularly, the curved ends of the bracket legs 31 (Figs. 7 and 8) which embrace the track portions of the track structure are extended slightly inward of the edge of the track portion toward the roller shafts 4 1 and these extending edges of the brackets are shaped to provide cam surfaces, indicated, respectively, at 56, 51, 58, 59. These cam elements are identical in shape and construction except that the upper one 56 is of a lesser depth so that its camming surface is the farthest spaced from the center of the roller shaft 41. The camming elements 51, 58 and 59 are progressively increased in depth (with respect to the cam element 56) to extend progressively nearer the centers of the respective roller shafts 41 so that the lowermost roller shaft (the shaft at the bottom ofthe to get a similar action, during the final closing movement of the door with respect to the other camming elements 56, 51 and 58, and their respective roller shafts, we mount on the relier shafts supporting the rollers 43, 44 and 45 sleeves 60, 5l and 62, respectively, which progressively increase in outside diameter correspondingly to the progressive decrease in the depth of the cem,- ming elements 56, 51 and 58; whereby the shafts supporting the roller 45 will freely pass the camming devices 56 and 51, but will engage thc beveled surface 58a of the camming element 58 and ride onto the camming surface thereof as shown in Fig. 8 in the final closing movement cf the door; the shaft supporting the roller 44 will freely pass the camming element 56 and will engage the bevel surface 51a of the camming element 51 and finally engage such camming device as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8; and the sleeved roller shaft supporting the roller 43 will engage the beveled surface 5l;a of the camming element 56 and move into the position illustrated in Fifg.

10 and weather-proof.

8 during the final closing movement of the door. With this arrangement, as the door is moved into its final closing position, all of the camming elements are simultaneously engaged in a similar manner and the door is cammed or thrown bodily forwardly as a unit toward and into engagement with the door frame structure 2|, 22 to securely seal the same throughout its length and width to render it substantially air-tight It will also be noted that with this arrangement, the sealing action does not begin and does not finally take. place until the door has been moved almost into its fully closed position and when it is moved into that position itis immediately sealed without any such wedging action that will tend to restrict immediate free movement of the door toward its open position. In other words, with this arrangement, the door seal may be broken and the door freed for ease in movementpractically immediately upon the beginning of the upward opening movement of the door. the roller shafts may be increased instead of using the sleeves 60, 6|, 62.

The accomplishment of the foregoing door seal` is further. provided for by the use of weather strips 53 (Figs. 7 Vand 9) secured to the side'door members 2|. Specifically, the door structure so far described may be first set up in position and thedoor moved downwardly into vits fully closed position. After that has been donethe weatherl strips 53 may then be applied, as illustrated, and in such abutting relation to the front face of the door that the effective and desired seal isA accomplished. With this arrangement, the track structure may be readily applied to both new and old structures quickly and accurately so that the door may be moved by the'operator with great ease and without any appreciable exertion.

40 To aid in such ease in operation of the door, and to hold the same in its full-open position or in various partially-open positions, we provide an eilicient form oi* counter-balancing means. It will be appreciatedthat the greatest door weight 'to be taken care of by the counter-balancing means is when the door is in its closed .or vertical position; and that, as the door is moved progressively toward its open position, and as part of the same issupported upon the hori- .50 zontal track portion 30h, the suspended weight of theA door becomes gradually and progressively less. Consequently, for accurate and positive counter-balancing, the counter-balancing means should b e such that its lifting and counter-balanclng effect be progressively and proportionately diminished as the door is progressively opened and its weight progressively borne by the horizontal track portion 30b and vice versa.

One form (Figs. 1-4) of counter-balancing means which we providev for accomplishing the foregoing takes the general form of a vertically disposed coil spring connected by means of pulleys 55 and 66 and cable 55 to the opposite bottom corners of the door. We use two such coun- 35 ter-balancing means, one at each side of the door, and we will, therefore, describe only one a of them in detail. The pulley 55 supports a depending bifurcate bracket 61 to which the upper end of the spring 64 is connected, the other end :o of the spring being connected to a suitable rightangled bracket 58 carried by the side door frame structure 2| at such a position that it does not interfere with the free movement of the door and its operating partsl (Figs. 3. and 4). The 75 pulley B6 is supported by a bracket 69 (Figs. 2

If desired the diameter of ward the track structure (Fig. 2) so as to mount the pulley 58 in a diagonal position. 'I'he support of the pulley 56 is completed by means of "a bracket 12 carried by the bracket arm 1| and between which two parts the pulley is rotatably mounted upon a suitable cross shaft 13. 'Ihe inward end oi' the bracket is provided with a laterally projecting extension 14 to which one end of the door operating cable 55 is connected, which cable extends from such part of the connection around the pulley 55 thence around the pulley 55 'and down to and connects with the cable-attachment bracket as hereinabove described. The diagonal mounting of the pulley 55 so positions this pulley with respect to the pulley 55 and the spring 54 and cable 55 that even with the bracket 69 odset laterally from the side edge of the door and the connection .of the cable 55 to the door, the movement of the pulleys, springv and cable is entirely free and without binding effect whereby the intended door action is accomplished in a free and easy manner. By mounting the spring and associated parts' in the vertical position, and in the manner shown, there is no tendency for such parts to whip and slap and set up a back-lash condition as the door is moved into its open and closed positions such as would be the case were the counterbalancing means mounted in a horizontal or partially horizontal position."

Furthermore, in the counterbalance Imechanism which we provide the pulley serves as a counterweight consequently reducing the effective Weight of the door to be counterbalanced by the spring an amount proportionate to its eiective weight. If desired, this pulley may be weighted o r its own weight may vary to vary the condition just explained. With such an arrangement, a lighter weight spring 55 may be employed than that normally required for counterbalancing the door., A heavy door may be effectively counterbalanced with a comparativelyA light spring or the weight of the door may be increased (with a proportionate increase in the weight of the pulley 65 or` additional counterweight) without increasing the strength of the spring with all of the attendant advantages of the spring counterbalanca By lusing a light spring and reducing the strain on the same, as is the case with the foregoing, the life of the counterbalance is increased with continuedr free and smooth action.

In the use of the counter-balance structure shown in Figs. 1-4, the spring 64 is fully extended, exerting greatest pull and lifting effect, when the door is in its fully closed position of Fig. 3. As' the door is moved from that position toward an open position, and the position of Fig. 4, the upward movement off the door gradually releases the cable 55 and the spring 54 gradually moves toward itsA normal unstretched condition of Fig. 4, gradually reducing the pull action of the spring lill as the door is gradually opened and the weight of the door is gradually borne by the track portion 30". We preferably arrange the spring andpulleys in such cooperative relation to the door (as shown) that upon raising or opening the door the gradually diminishing weight of the door to be liftedis threeY springs, the total strength of which is sum! proportionate to the gradually diminishing pull of the spring 64 whereby, in any position during this movement, the door is positively and accurately counter-balanced so that it will remain in any such position ready for further movement upon the application of slight pressure thereto. This same action takes piace in the movement of the door from its full open position toward its closed position, all of which will. be readily understood by those vskilled in this art.

It will be appreciated that in the manufacture of structure embodying our invention, the weight of the door or spring or both may vary whereby an accurate counterbalance may not be provided or considerable difficulty may be experienced in initially properly counterbalancing the door. Furthermore, due to wear of the parts or lessening of the strength of a counterbalance spring from any cause, the initially-provided counterbalance condition may be disturbed resulting in improper counterbalancing of the door, after it has been in use. 1

To take careV of the foregoing conditions, in the form of Figs. 1-4, we, preferably, provide an adjustable attachment for the counterbalance spring 64. Specifically, referring to Fig. 11, we, preferaby, employ a bail-like member 95 looped through the pulley support 61 and having the ends of its arms extending within the spring and looped around a coil of the spring at diametrically-opposed points 96 and 91. The looped ends of these arms are, preferably, fiattened so as to pass freely between the adjacent coils. The bail thus has in effect a screw-threadlike engagement with the spring.

By turning or screwing the bail 95 in one direction upon the spring, the bail moves nearer the mid-portion of the spring reducing the active length of the spring and increasing its effective strength. The reverse is true when the bail is turned or screwed in the opposite direction. Obviously, the same results are obtained by turning the spring relative to the bail. In the foregoing manner the effective power of the spring 64 may be increased or diminished to effect an accurate counterbalance; whereby a positive counterbalance is always assured with a minimum of labor and attention.

The foregoing may also be accomplished with a screw-plug-like attachment 98 such as illustrated in Fig. 12. As the plug-attachment is screwed inward the active length of the spring is decreased and the opposite is true when such plug is screwed outwardly.

-In use of the spring type counterbalance, there is, of course, a possibility of breakage of a counterbalancing spring resulting in falling of the door with its consequent dangers. While this possibility is somewhat remote with proper care in selection of and installation of parts, We do not fail to recognize it-particularly, where the springs are subjected to severe working, strains and stresses. We, therefore, may employ as a safe guard an arrangement such as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 wherein the counterbalance has inherent safety provision. Speciflcally, We may substitute for the single spring 6l (of Fig. 1), at each side of the door, a pair of springs which are of combined strength equal to the strength of the single spring 64 so as to do the work of the single spring in the same manner as hereinbefore described. However, in case one of these springs |00 should break (there being four .each spring for attachment of the same.

cient to supportthe door against falling as distinguished from slow` lowering ofthe same. These springs are supported in the following manner; Y

A: bau m similar to the bau ss'uug. 1,1)- is aujustably attached to the upper end of each spring and these bails, in turn, hook-engage the arms of.

a yoke member |02 which is pivotally secured as at |03 to the pulley bracket |04. The lower ends of springs |00 are hook-engaged with the arms of a yoke bracket |05 which is vin turn, hook-engaged with the bottomV frame bracket 4|06 (similar to'A To avoid shock tothe door structure, and to cushion its final opening movement, we provide on the top of the track structure a spring bumper device, one on each side, which takes the form of a casing 15 supporting a short Iforwardly projecting spring 16 which the top of the then-horizontal door structure abuts. The yielding action of these springs permits th'e door to move on into its fully opened position in a smooth and noiseless manner. To facilitate movement of the door just described, we provide the door panels 23 and 23b with handles 11.

It is highly desirable that means be provided for locking the 'door vin its closed position and to accomplish this, we may employ a locking means of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Specifically, a plate 18 is rotatably mounted upon the panel 23b near the center of the door and on the inside thereof, which plate is provided along one edge with a latching notch l19 adapted to be engaged by the depressible locking tongue 80 (Fig. 1) of a lock device 8| when the latter is in its locked position. To the opposite ends of the plate 18, and at laterally and vertically oset points, we pivotally connect rods 82 which are guidingly supported at their outer ends by passing through suitable ,openings in the right-angled arms of brackets 83 secured to the panel 23b near its opposite side edges. At least one (or both if desired) of these rods is provided near its free end with a xed stop 84, and between this stop and the supporting arm of the bracket 83 there is disposed a spring 85 which tends to self-return the plate 18 and rods 82 to an unlocking position. When the door is closed with rods 82 in the position shown in Fig. 1, they extend. beyond the side edges of the door to lengage suitable aligned openings or slots 86 in the adjacent track 30 and the rods remain in that position so long as the locking tongue 80 engages the plate notch 19 as indicated in Fig. 1. When the lock 8| is actuated to withdraw the locking tongue 80 the spring 85 moves its rod 82 inwardly of the door structure, rotating the plate 18 and likewise moving the other rod\82 inwardly and withdrawing it from its locking opening or slot 86. The parts will remain in this unlocked position until the plate handle 81 is again moved to turn the plate to the position shown in Fig. 1. The rotatable supporting member 88 which supports the plate 18 upon the door extends on through the panel 23'D and on the outside of the door it has connected to it another handle 89 similar to the handle 81. T'he locking device 8| has the usual outside extension for receiving a key which permits of unlocking of the door from the outside in the manner just described. Both the locking device 8| and the plate 18 are supported, as a unit, by a bracket 90 secured to the door in any suitable manner. Thusly. the lock and plate are maintained in a -predetermined relationship for engagement of the parts as above described. The raised or oset portion 90* of the bracket 80 which supports the plate 18 is of such shape and itv is so positioned that it will be struck by the inner end portions of the lock rods 82 (Fig. 6) when the plate 18 is rotated toward unlocking position to limit Athe unlocking movement/ of such rods.

It will be noted that in the use of the foregoing lock structure, the springs 85 always tend to move the rods 82 to an unlatched position so that the lock-tongue must always be thrown to a locking position o hold the door latched. This requires that a key be available at all times for opening the door. This may be objectionable in many instances and to avoid the same we provide the following as shown in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive. A plate |01 is mounted similarly to the plate 18 (Fig. 1) upon a door-carried support |II. The latch rods |08 are pivoted at |09 to this plate and their pivot points are so relatively positioned and oiset on opposite sides of a line passing through the center of such plate that when the plate |01 is rotated (from the position of Fig. 18) to the position of Figs. 15 and 16 on the other side of such center line, these pivot points assume a. position wherein the springs |I2 tend to move the rods |08 back toward an unlatching position. This movement of the rods is, however, limited to a slight distance past center by stop elements formed on the plate support I Il, which stop elements are engaged by the pivoted ends vof rods |08 in their beyond-center position, as

best shown in Fig. 16; when the parts assume the position of Fig. 16, the springs I |2 then yieldably oppose movement of the rods to an unlatched position so that the locking tongue ||8 of the lock o ||4 may remain in unlocked position with the door remaining latched in closed position. To

unlatch the door it is only necessary to grasp the 50 the door in its latched condition when the lock is accordingly actuated by the key IIS. Otherwise, this latching structure is the same as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

We believe that the operation of the foregoing door structure, as well as the advantages of our invention, will be readily understood from the description already given. Furthermore, we wish it to be understood that while we have shown and described several arrangements of our invention,

m other changes in details and arrangement of parts 6,. 1. In closure structure of the character demay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention as defined by the claims which follow.

We claim:

o scribed, a frame defining an opening to be closed.

a pair of track members adapted to be mounted at the opposite' sides of said opening, said track Y members each having a-vertical and a horizontal 70 portion, a closure member formed of a plurality of panels hingedly connected, brackets supported by said closure, rollers having shafts supported by said brackets, said rollers riding on said track members to move said closure member from 75 a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa.

and means engaging said roller shafts between said rollers and said closure member as said closure member moves into its finally-closed position for shifting said closure member bodily toward said frame to seal the closure member.

2. In closure structure of the character described, a frame defining an opening to be closed, a pair of track members adapted to be mounted at the opposite vsides of said opening, said track members each having a vertical and a horizontal portion, a closure member formed of a plurality of panels hingedly connected, rollers having shafts connected to said closure and riding on said track members to move said closure member from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa, door-shift elements carried by said roller shafts between said rollers and said closure member, and cam means engaged by said shift-elements as said closure member moves into its finallyclosed position for shifting said closure member bodily toward said frame to seal the closure member.

3. In closure structure of the character described, a frame dening an opening to be closed, a pair of track members adapted to be mounted at the opposite sides of said opening, said track members each having a vertical and a horizontal portion, a closure member formed of a plurality of panels hingedly connected, rollers having shafts connected to said closure and riding on said track members to move said closure member from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa, and means supporting said track members said means being adapted to engage said roller shafts as said closure member moves into its finallyclosed position for shifting said closure member bodily toward said frame to seal the closure member.

4. In closure structure of the character described, a frame defining an opening to be closed, a pair of track members adapted to be mounted at the opposite sides of said opening, said track' members each having a vertical and a horizontal portion, a closure member formed of a plurality of panels hingedly connected, rollers havingl shafts connected to said closure and riding on said track members to move said closure member from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa, and brackets supporting said track members and having parts thereof adapted to be engaged by said roller shafts as said closure member moves into its finally-closed position for shifting said closure member bodily toward said frame to seal the closure member.

5. In closure structure, the combination with frame members forming the opening'to be closed, of track members each having a vertical portion supported by said frame members at the opposite sides of said opening and a horizontal portion extending overhead and inwardly away from said opening, a sectional closure member having its sections hingedly joined; shafts supported Aby said closure member, rollers supported by said shafts and guidingly riding on said track members for movement of said closure member from an open-horizontal to a closed-vertical position and vice versa, brackets supporting'said vertical track portions on said frame members, and means carried by said brackets obstructing the pathway of said roller shafts during closing movement of said closure member, which means shifts said shafts and closure member laterally to seal said closure member against said frame members in the final closing movement of the closure member.

6. In closure structure. the combination with frame members forming the opening to be closed, of track members each having a vertical portion supported by said frame members at the opposite sides of said opening and a horizontal portion extending overhead and inwardly away from said opening, a sectional closure member having its sections hingedly joined; shafts supported by said closure member, rollers supported by said shafts and guidingly riding on said track members for movement of said closure member froman open-horizontal to a closed-vertical position and vice versa, supporting brackets secured to said frame members and to said vertical track portions, said brackets having cam-faced edge -portions extending in the path of said shafts as the door moves into its closed position whereby said closure member is shifted laterally to seal said closure member against said frame members in the final closing movement of the closure member.

'7. In a closure structure of the overhead type, means constituting a seal surface around the opening to be closed, track members each having a vertical portion mounted along the opposite sides of said opening and a horizontal portion extending overhead and inwardly away from the opening, means supporting said track members, a door, or the l; ke closure, formed of top, bottom and intermediate sections hingedly connected together to swing about horizontal lines, roller-and-shaft means mounted at the opposite side edges of said door with the rollersthereof engaging said track members for movement of said door from a horizontal-open to a vertical-closed position, certain of said rollers being shaft mounted on the top section, others on the bottom section and the remainder at the hinged joints between said'sections, cam elements associated with said track member supporting means and so positioned that they are opposite and extend at substantiallyl right angles to the respective roller shafts in the closed position of the door, the upper of said roller shafts having an enlarged diameter with the lower shafts progressively diminishing in diameter, and the upper of said cam elements being of sufficient length to engage the upper of said shafts in door-closed position with the lower of said cam elements progressively increasing in length proportionately to the diminishing d'ameter of said shafts.

8. In a closure structure of the overhead type, track members at the opposite sides of the opening to be closed, said members each having a vertical and a horizontal portion, a door, or the like closure, means for supporting said door on said track comprising a plurality of shafts supporting rollers mounted along the side edges of the door at top, bottom and intermediate points, said rollers engaging said track members, and track supporting means mounted along the vertical portions of said track members for sealing the door against the frame means defining the opening to be closed including cam members corresponding in number to said rollers and positioned so as to engage said shafts as the door is moved into its final vertical-closed position, the uppermost of said cam members being located farthest from the axes of said shafts with the successive lower cam members progressively approaching nearer said shaft axes, and the diameter of said uppermost shaft being the greater to engage said uppermost cam member in the closed position of the door with the successive lower shafts progressively decreasing in diameter proportionately to the progressive increase in projection of said lower cam members whereby all said cam members become engaged with their respective shafts in door-closed position without camming engagement of any of said parts prior to movement of the door into its finally closed position.

9. In a closure structure of the overhead type, track members at the opposite sides of the opening to be closed, said members eachl having a vertical and a. horizontal portion, a door, or the like closure, means for supporting said door on said track comprising a plurality of shafts supporting rollers mounted` along the side edges of the door at top, bottom and intermediate points, said rollers engaging said track members, and means mounted along the vertical portions of said track members for sealing the door against the frame means defining the opening to be closed comprising brackets supporting each of said vertical track portions and positioned opposite said rollers in closed position of the door, said brackets each having an extension projecting at right angles to the axes of said shafts and into the paths of said shafts, said bracket extensions having cam surfaces engaged by the respective of said shafts in door closed position, the extent of projection of said extensions and the diameters of said shafts, respectively, being reversely increased and diminished so that the lowermost of said shafts may pass all of the cam devices and engage only the lowermost of said cam devices, and likewise as to the intermediate of said shafts.

10. In a closure structure of the overhead typey track members at the opposite sides of the opening to be closed, said members each having a vertical and a horizontal portion, a door, or the like closure, means for supporting said door on said track comprising a plurality of shafts supporting rollers mounted along the side edges of the door at top, bottom and intermediate points, said rollers engaging said track members, and means mounted along the vertical portions of said track members for sealing the door against the frame means defining the opening to beclosed comprising brackets supporting each of said vertical track portions and positioned opposite said rollers in closed position of the door, said brackets each having an extension projecting at right angles to the axes of said shafts and into the paths of said shafts, said bracket extensions having cam surfaces engaged by the respective of said shafts in door closed position. the arrangement of said cam surfaces and said shafts being such that the uppermost cam surface is farthest removed from the paths of movement of said shafts with the successive lower cam surfaces progressively projecting nearer said shaft paths, and the uppermost of said shafts having the greater diameter with the successive lower of said shafts progressively decreasing in diameter proportionately to the increase in projection of said successive lower cam surfaces whereby al1 of said shafts in movement of the door to closed position simultaneously engage only their respective cam surfaces for lateral displacement of the door toward a sealing surface.

l1. Closure structure adapted to be associated with frame means defining a rectangularlyshaped, vertical-plane opening to be closed` comprising track members mounted at the opposite vertical sides of said opening and outside the limits thereof, means including shafts and rollers adapted to be engaged with said track members and a door for supporting a door on said track members, spaced means supporting said vertical track portions having integral portions adapted to engage respective roller shafts for lateral displacement of the roller shafts simultaneously throughout as the parts are moved into their closed position, and seal strip means mounted on the frame means within the limits of said opening and substantially parallel with said track members and against which the vertical side edges of a door are adapted to be seated as the parts are moved into their closed position.

12. In overhead door structure, track members i having vertical and horizontal portions mounted at opposite sides of the opening to be closed, a door mounted upon said track members for movement from a vertical closed position to an overhead, horizontal open position and vice versa, and means for counterbalancing said door in said movements comprising at each side of the opening to be closed a bracket mounted adjacent the bottom of said opening, a vertically disposed coil spring connected at one end to said bracket, a pulley supporting the other end of said spring, a cable attached to the bottom corner of said door, a second pulley over which said cable passes, said cable also passing over said rst-named pulley, and a bracket mounted at the top corner of said opening and having an inwardly-projecting, diagonally-disposed arm supporting said second pulley at such an angle that 30 it projects diagonally from said horizontal track portions toward said opening, said bracket also having a projecting arm to which the end of said cable which passes over said first-named pulley is connected.

13. In overhead door structure, track members having vertical and horizontal portions mounted at opposite sides of the opening to be closed, a

door mounted upon said track members for movement from a vertical closed position to an over- 40 head, horizontal open position and vice versa, and means displaced sidewise from said door and track members for counterbalancing said door in said movements comprising at each side of the opening to be closed a right-angled bracket 45 mounted adjacent the bottom oi' said opening and having one arm projecting inwardly away from said opening, a vertically disposed coil spring connected at one end to said one bracket arm, a oating pulley connected to the other end of 50 said spring, a cable attached to the bottom corner of said door, a second pulley over which said cable first passes, said cable also passing over said first-named pulley, and a right-angled bracket mounted at the top corner of said opening and 5'5 having its inwardly-projecting arm supported by said horizontal track portion and diagonallydisposed and supporting said second pulley at such an angle that it projects diagonally from said horizontal track portion toward said opening, said bracket also having a projecting arm to which the end of said cable opposite its doorconnected end is attached.

14. In overhead door structure, track means, a door, counterbalancing means including a cable, and means for mounting said door on said track means including a bracket secured to the bottom corner vportion of said door, a bearing associated with said bracket, a shaft supported by said bearing, a rollercarried by said shaft and engaging said track means, said bracket having an extension projecting inwardly of and around said track means adapted for attachment of one end of said cable.

15. In overhead door structure, track means, a 75 door, counterbalancing means including a cable,

and means for mounting said door on said track means including a U-shaped bracket having its base part attached to the lower corner of said door, the U-arms of said bracket projecting inwardly, and provided with aligned openings, a relatively short shaft received and supported in said openings, a roller supported by said shaft and engaging said track means, one of said U- arms being extended and curved around said track means for attachment of one end of said cable at a point substantially inward and laterally of said track means.

16. A hardware unit for mounting a door of the character described, comprised of a plurality of connected sections adapted to be supported by track members, which includes a hinge member having hinge leaves adapted to be connected to adjacent door sections, a bracket carried by one of said leaves independent of the hinge pintle, said bracket having an arm extending at substantially right angles to said hinge leaf and having its outer end formed to provide an integral bearing, a shaft supported freely in said bearing for rotation and axial shift movement, and a roller carried by said shaft and adapted to engage one of the track members which support the door.

17. A hardware unit for mounting a door of the character described, comprised of a plurality of connected sections adapted to be supported by track members. which includes a hinge member having hinge leaves adapted to be connected to adjacent door sections, a right-angled bracket having its base portion carried by one of said leaves and its other portion or arm extended away from said leaf with its outer end turned to form a cylindrical bearing the axis of which is located above and on-center with respect to the pintle of said hinge member, a shaft freely receivable in said bearing for free rotation and axial adjustment thereof, and a roller supported by said shaft and adapted to engage one of the track members which support the door.

18. A device for closing an opening comprising a closure element, trackways for guiding said closure element between open position and closed position where the edges thereof contact with a frame around the opening, rollers carried by said closure element and cooperating with said track- Ways to guide it, means for forcing said closure element firmly into contact with the frame around said opening as it moves into closed position, said means comprising a plurality of sleeves carried by the closure element adjacent said rollers but being separate from the rollers, and a plurality of inclined plane devices mounted on said trackways and adapted to cooperate by camming action with said sleeves.

19. A device-for closing an opening comprising a closure element, trackways for guiding said closure element between open position and closed position where the edges thereof contact with a frame around the opening, rollers mounted on supporting means attached to said closure element and adapted to cooperate with said trackways to aid in guiding said closure element between open and closed positions, said roller members being disposed at spaced intervals along the edges of the closure element, means for forcing said closure element firmly into contact with the frame around said opening as it moves into closed position, said means comprising a plurality of sleeves mounted on said roller supporting members but being separate from said rollers, said sleeves being of progressively decreasing diameter, and a plurality of inclined plane members ciated with the roller and the door, and means associated with the track for engaging said sleeve to position the door.

LOUIS A. BITTORF. GEORGE G. BEHRENS. FRANK DECKER. 

